More than 16,000 people are expected to attend the festival, now in its fifth year.

The event's chairman, Cameron Costello, told those gathered at last night's official opening, he is proud to see it grow.

"You've shown that what we've always known is that far north Queensland and Queensland have such an in-depth talent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and that we deserve to be on the national stage and we are there," he said.

The art fair continues with a fashion parade tonight, the Big Talk One Fire cultural festival tomorrow and the Gimuy Fish Festival on Sunday.